The Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival was officially established in March 2000. As the operating body and permanent institution of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, the Center is primarily responsible for introducing outstanding global cultural achievements, promoting Chinese traditional arts, advancing cultural exchange between China and the world, and serving the cultural industry. While overseeing the preparation and annual operation of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, the Center has also leveraged its strengths to continuously expand its scope, creating a "365-day Arts Festival," and has successively undertaken major events including "China Focus," "Happy Chinese New Year," and the "12th China Art Festival" as well as "Symphony of the Era - National Outstanding Orchestra Invitational Performance". It has also carried out cultural exchange initiatives such as the "Chinese Culture Festival- City in Focus: Shanghai" and "Shanghai Culture Week"i n Hong Kong, China, as well as "Summer for the City: Shanghai Day" in New York, United States.

The Center's wholly-owned subsidiary- Shanghai Cultural Exchange Agency- was established in 1983.As Shanghai's earliest performance management agency,it is the city's first institution to be authorized by the P.R.C.Ministry of Culture to organize tours of domestic arts and fine arts groups (and individuals) abroad for performances and exhibitions.The company's services span the entire performing arts pipeline, including undertaking key art festival projects, performance creation and production,art venue operation, and repertoire agency.